Sabine Mokry’s Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks’ Constructions of China’s National Interest: Hidden Hand on Demand offers a timely contribution to the study of Chinese think tanks and the role of policy epistemic communities in shaping state discourse in contemporary China. At a time when China’s global role is under intense scrutiny, in parallel with the belief that political pluralism in China is completely overshadowed by the current Xi Jinping administration, Mokry shifts attention from official state rhetoric to the broader ecosystem of scholars and think tanks that contribute to defining and legitimizing the concept of China’s “national interest.” In doing so, the book provides a nuanced and empirically grounded account of the Chinese experts’ ecosystem, reminding us that it still matters how ideas about China’s role in the world are constructed, debated and institutionalized. The book is divided into six relatively short chapters plus an introduction and conclusion.
The central argument of the book is that China’s national interest is neither a fixed nor a monolithic concept only imposed from above, but rather a dynamic and, to some extent, contested construct shaped by interactions between state institutions, academic communities and policy-oriented think tanks. Mokry argues that Chinese scholars are not merely passive transmitters of official ideology; instead, they play an active role in articulating, and sometimes subtly reshaping, the contours of China’s foreign policy discourse. This insight is particularly valuable in moving beyond overly deterministic or state-centric readings of Chinese policymaking processes.
Methodologically, the book combines quantitative content analysis with a solid examination of Chinese-language resources (4,000 academic journal articles and published policy reports). The author draws on a varied range of sources, including academic publications, official Chinese foreign policy statements and think-tank outputs, to trace how key concepts related to national interest have evolved over time (p. 7). The focus on discourse and particularly text analysis allows her to capture the underlying narratives, assumptions and, more importantly, the often-hidden policy shifts that inform Chinese strategic thinking.
Likewise, another key contribution of the book lies in its updated mapping of the think-tank landscape in China. Throughout the book, Mokry provides a detailed account of the different types of policy institutions involved in foreign policy debates, including those affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, the government, the military sector and universities. While this is not at all a new angle on the topic, it helps to clarify the varying degrees of autonomy, influence and proximity to power that still characterize different Chinese think tanks today. In doing so, therefore, the book positions itself against the common assumption that Chinese think tanks are uniformly state-controlled and lack independent analytical capacity. While acknowledging the constraints imposed by the political system, Mokry shows that there is a degree of pluralism and internal debate, albeit within clearly defined boundaries.
The analysis of how Chinese scholars conceptualize national interest is particularly insightful. Mokry identifies several recurring themes, including the emphasis on sovereignty, development and stability, as well as the growing importance of global governance and international responsibility. She traces how these themes have evolved since Xi Jinping took power in response to both domestic transformations and changes in the international environment. For instance, the shift from a focus on economic development to a broader conception of China as a major actor in world affairs reflects the country’s changing position in the global order, where leading global governance has emerged as the most important aspect shaping China’s national interest and its external projection (p. 67). At the same time, enduring concerns about regime security and territorial integrity continue to shape the limits of acceptable discourse.
Importantly, the book also highlights the role of international engagement in shaping Chinese debates. Exchanges with foreign scholars, participation in global forums and exposure to international norms all contribute to the circulation of ideas and the gradual adaptation of Chinese perspectives. However, Mokry is careful not to overstate the transformative impact of these interactions. Instead, she presents a balanced view in which external influences are filtered through domestic priorities and political considerations.
At the same time, the book raises important questions about the limits of discursive agency in an authoritarian context. While Mokry provides compelling evidence of debate and variation among Chinese scholars, the extent to which these discussions translate into actual policy influence remains less clear. The hierarchical nature of the Chinese political system and the central role of the Communist Party inevitably constrain the space for dissenting views. Even if it may lie beyond the scope of enquiry for this publication (p. 4), this important aspect remains under-investigated and therefore limits the enrichment of previous research about Chinese experts’ influence on foreign policymaking in the PRC. Moreover, while the focus on discourse is a major strength, it also entails certain limitations. The emphasis on textual analysis may underplay the role of informal networks, personal relationships and bureaucratic politics in shaping policy outcomes, precisely within a country where they strongly matter. Integrating these dimensions could provide a more comprehensive picture of how ideas interact with power structures in the Chinese system.
Despite these limitations, Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks’ Constructions of China’s National Interest represents a significant contribution to the field. It offers an empirically grounded account of the interplay between knowledge production and foreign policy in China, and it challenges simplistic narratives about the rigidity and uniformity of Chinese strategic thinking and the PRC’s decision-making process. For scholars of China, international relations and global governance, the book provides valuable insights into the processes through which national interests are defined and contested.
In conclusion, Mokry’s work is worth reading. As China continues to expand its global presence, understanding the intellectual and institutional foundations of its foreign policy is of paramount importance. Ultimately, the book reminds us of the importance of looking beyond the highly mediatized debates that often shape contemporary discussions of China, from technological innovation to environmental challenges, and of the need to continue to explore instead new avenues of research on the relationship between ideas and power in international politics.
